Red Vineyard

Nice!

I really like this. The flavor is less “wine-like” (although I did use that term when describing it in my full-length review of this that will publish later this month), and more wine-inspired … although I do get a fermented grape-y kind of taste in this too. The astringency at the tail of this tea seems to play to this.

The black tea is a full-flavored tea, strong but not what I’d call bold … it holds its own. The best part of this tea is the sweet, peachy flavors and the touch of strawberry, I like this combination of flavors.

A really good tea.

This was a surprise thrown in with my requested samples, and I am very grateful that Fusion Teas decided to include it! The dry smell was very strongly peach, overpoweringly so, and I was a little bit wary… Brewed the peach smell mellowed considerably, and the brew came out a deep brown.
For a mix that was about 95% black tea and only 5% fruit pieces and safflower, I didn’t even taste the black, in fact, I could have sworn I was drinking a peach herbal! No complaints from me, as I am not a huge black tea person, and I still got the caffeine boost along with a lovely peachy tea. Mild, light, and yummm. I think I shall try it cold brewed next!

3rd of the Fusion Teas I ordered. Oddly, this is the only non-mate tea I got.
But wow.. Peach crunchies in this tea? Can I have a fruit snack bag of that? Me and my rabbit Benson can sit together and fight over it, like what we do with Trader Joe’s freeze dried strawberries and bananas.

DRY: OOOOOOOOH IT SMELLS LIKE PEACHY FRUIT PUNCH JUICE CONCENTRATE! (yes, it needed to be written in all caps). Looks like black tea with vibrant red and orange chunks.

STEEPED: Very fruity. This is one of the most fruitiest teas I’ve smelled. Steeps into a nice dark brown/red hue tea.

TASTE: Peaches and strawberry with nice light black tea in the background. Not tart or bitter. Peach flavour slightly comes out more than the strawberry. Peach after taste. Refreshing despite drinking this tea hot and unsweetened.

WHO’D LIKE THIS TEA: Fruity tea people. All of them. I know some who dislike black tea – try this tea and you’ll like it as the black tea is very light. Iced tea lovers would also love this tea.

OBSERVATIONS: The tea package says 3-4 minutes, however confusingly online it says 4-5 minutes. I followed the package and went with 3 and a half minutes. I think the short steep time turns up the tea magic so the black tea wasn’t overpowering the fruit.

COMMENTS: I found myself freaking guzzling this tea piping hot without taking my time to enjoy my first cup of it so I can review it. It could be the combination of having my first cup of tea of the day really late (2pm) or it being amazing, but leaning on the latter. I love that it just tastes light and fruity – strong fruity without being sweet.
I have a similar tea I love: DavidsTea “Southern Belle” (black/peach/yogurt) but this one blows it out of the water for stronger peach flavor and lighter black tea taste. Red Vineyard is very straight up peach tea without adding other stuff (ie hibiscus or rosehips) that would take away from the peachyness or make it tart.

This would make a killer ice tea – I’d drink this cold unsweetened over that crystal light crap I drink. I will buy more once I’ve finished this tea – and hopefully me and my rabbit won’t go trying to pick out those peach crunchies.

Great job Fusion Teas! Red Vineyard will become a staple in my tea collection.